Walter J. Moucha Sr.

Walter J. Moucha Sr., 90, of East Stroudsburg, passed away Monday, May 13, 2013, at Gino J. Merli Veterans Center in Scranton. He was the husband of Millicent (Bricka) Moucha, who died in March 2006.

Born Jan. 16, 1923, in the Bronx, N.Y., he was the son of the late Aldrich and Mabel (Miller) Moucha.

Walter and Millicent started their family in the Bronx, N.Y., and moved to East Northport (Long Island), N.Y. in the early 1950s, raising their sons into adulthood. Then Walter and Millicent retired to Menominee, Mich., and lived there for almost 25 years. He has spent the past five years here in Monroe County having moved from Fort Pierce, Fla.

Walter served in the 554th Army Air Force Base Unit during World War II. He is the recipient of the American Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal and World War II Victory Medal.

Walter was a gifted carpenter and cabinetmaker. These skills brought him to the Wheeler Shipyard in the Clason Point section of the Bronx, N.Y., just a short walk from their first apartment. There he contributed his skills in building some of the finest post-World War II luxury yachts for the rich and famous. He built for his own pleasure a 16-foot boat which made the newspapers when he traveled up the Hudson River to Albany, N.Y. Walter's next challenge was a 25-foot cabin cruiser, christened "Millicent." He continued his love of boat building when his young family moved to Long Island, N.Y. Shortly thereafter, Walter sought a more stable job and was employed, first as a carpenter and then as head of all maintenance, with the Union Free School District 4 in Northport, N.Y. Walter retired from this position in 1982.

He was a longtime model airplane enthusiast and a member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics. He also loved fishing and devoted many hours throughout his early life off of Long Island, N.Y., and the New Jersey shore and most recently in the waters of south Florida with Walt Jr.

Surviving Walter are two sons, Lawrence "Larry" Moucha Sr. and his wife, Nancy, of East Stroudsburg, and Walter J. Moucha Jr. and his wife, Rose, of Fort Pierce, Fla. He is also survived by 14 grandchildren: Lawrence "Kurt" Jr. and his wife, Lanette; Christine Eberhardt and her husband, Alan; Kate Bush and her husband, Denny; Kim Paolino and her husband, Randy; Kyle Moucha; Craig Moucha; Claire Moucha; Keith Moucha; Kevin Moucha; Cassandra Moucha; Laura Slaymaker and her husband, Justin; Robert Moucha and his wife, Valerie; Toni Olson and her husband, Don; and Samantha Moucha; and 10 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his great-grandson, Jacob Cole Slaymaker.

The viewing will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 16, at William H. Clark Funeral Home, 1003 Main St., Stroudsburg. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Friday, May 17, at the funeral home, with the Rev. David Cornell officiating. Cremation will be at H.G. Smith Crematory in Stroudsburg.

In lieu of flowers, memorial remembrances may be made to the Jacob Cole Slaymaker Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 880464, Port Saint Lucie, FL 34988. "Our mission is to bring added joy to S.M.A. children and their families."